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![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20081211181950im_/http://www.speaker.gov/img/NDmain.jpg)
The
110th Congress is making progress for the American people on the toughest
challenges we face. For too many years, these challenges have gone unaddressed.
Under Democratic leadership,
this Congress is changing the way we do business in Washingtonrestoring
accountability and working together to get the job done. We are delivering
on our promise of a New Direction for America.
IN
THE FIRST 100 HOURS
The 100 Hour Agenda
responded to a nation frustrated with years of Congressional inaction,
and took the initiative to address issues of concern to Americas
families. From the first day, the New Direction Congress, with new leadership
and working across party lines, set a new course one that gives
more of us the opportunity to attain the American Dream.
The new House worked
across party lines to pass legislation to:
Make
Americans safer here at home
- We made our very
first vote the implementation of the independent, bipartisan 9/11
Commission national security recommendations.
Make
our economy fairer
- We voted to increase
the minimum wage for the first time in 10 yearsto give American
workers an overdue pay raise.
Make
college more affordable for every American
- We voted to cut
student loan interest rates in half.
Make
America more energy independent and help fight global warming
- We voted to roll
back multi-billion dollar taxpayer subsidies for Big Oil companies
already enjoying record profits.
- We will reinvest
here at home in renewable energy and energy efficiency spending
our energy dollars in the Midwest, not the Middle East.
Offer
hope for new cures to devastating diseases
- We voted to expand
research and help unlock the promise of stem cell therapies to alleviate
human suffering and cure diseases.
Help
reduce the cost of drugs for seniors and Americans with disabilities
- We voted to require
Medicare to leverage its substantial bargaining power to buy prescription
drugs and pass the savings on to the people.
Clean
up Washington and the fiscal mess
- We put the interests
of all Americans ahead of the special interests by passing tough Congressional
ethics reform, restoring pay-as-you-go budgeting, and
restricting spending earmarks.
![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20081211181950im_/http://www.speaker.gov/img/smstars.jpg)
IN
THE FIRST 100 DAYS
The first 100 hours
was just a beginning. In the first 100 days, we addressed the most pressing
issue of our time the war in Iraq. And on other immediate challenges,
where there had been a failure to act, this Congress stood up for the
American people.
We honored our commitment
to our veterans and troops, restored investments in health care and education,
gave long overdue aid to the victims of hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and
worked to restore accountability in government. We have a fiscally responsible
budget that reflects the values of the American people.
The new House passed
legislation to:
Strengthen
our National Security and Provide a New Direction in Iraq
- Support the troops
and oppose an open-ended commitment to the Presidents failed
strategy in Iraqcalling for responsible redeployment of most
U.S. troops by August 31, 2008.
- Require the President
to ensure troops meet Defense Department standards for training, equipment,
and length of deployment.
- Hold the Iraqi
government accountable to meet the Presidents benchmarks for
progress.
- Refocus the fight
against terror on Afghanistan and al Qaeda.
- Tackle the military
and veterans disgraceful health care crisis.
Restore
Fiscal Responsibility and Grow our Economy
- Cut the deficit
and balance the budget over five years.
- Create good jobs
by investing in renewable energy and new technologies for an energy
independent America.
- Guarantee American
workers free choice in bargaining with employers.
Develop
a Budget that Reflects American Values
- Extend health
care coverage to millions of uninsured children.
- Protect middle-income
families from being hit with an AMT tax increase.
- Restore critical
funding to education, law enforcement, medical research, and health
care reversing years of harmful cuts.
- Invest in our
national security and provide the largest veterans funding increase
in U.S. history.
- Open the door
to college to millions of students by increasing Pell Grants.
- Provide overdue
housing, infrastructure, and education aid for the survivors of hurricanes
Katrina and Rita.
Restore
Accountability to Washington
- Clean up government
contracting abuses and no bid contracts that companies
like Halliburton and KBR have made infamous.
- Strengthen protections
for government whistleblowers who expose fraud or safety concerns.
- Protect the publics
right to know, strengthening the Freedom of Information Act.
- Restore checks
and balances oversight by investigating the military health
care crisis, Iraq and Hurricane Katrina reconstruction, and the firing
of U.S. Attorneys.
![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20081211181950im_/http://www.speaker.gov/img/smstars.jpg)
NEXT
ON THE AGENDA
We will work to:
Defend
our Country
- Fight terrorism
with a greater focus on those who attacked us on 9/11, on homeland
security, and on keeping nuclear weapons out of the hands of terrorists.
- Improve our military
readiness by rebuilding a 21st century force capable of projecting
power and our ideals to protect our country and our interests.
- Demand accountability
and end the rubber stamp approach to Congressional oversight
of the war in Iraq, the fight against terrorism, and homeland security.
Grow
our Economy
- Invest in 25,000
new highly-trained science, math, engineering, and technology teachers,
and 100,000 students in the fields that fuel the Innovation Economy.
- Double basic
R&D funding and focus funds on high-risk, high-reward early stage
research.
- Expand always
on broadband Internet, targeting rural and underserved regions.
- Pass a strong
new agriculture bill for family farmers and ranchers who will lead
the way to an energy independent America.
- Help make home
ownership affordable and make lending institutions more accountable.
- Promote bipartisan
comprehensive immigration reform that secures our border, strengthens
our economy, protects American workers and fixes our broken system.
Care
for our Children and Families
- Dramatically
expand access to quality health care for Americas children.
- Expand and improve
our most successful pre-school program, Head Start.
- Convene a Childrens
Summit, to ensure the best science guides policy on child care, childrens
health, and early learning.
- Treat mental
health care the same as other medical coverage.
- Expedite FDA
approval and enhance the safety of life-saving drugs.
- Provide more
support to local police and strengthen oversight of Internet child
safety.
Protect
our Planet
- Reduce our dependence
on foreign oil to help combat rising gas prices.
- Increase the
use of renewable energy and energy efficiency to reduce emissions,
helping to protect future generations from climate change.
- Promote innovation
to make America the world leader in clean energy technologies.
Restore
Accountability
- Break the link
between legislation and lobbyists by passing lobby reform.
- Strengthen our
democracy and protect the integrity of our elections with paper trail
accountability and reforms to prevent voter intimidation.
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